Penn State’s 2026 season arrives with a roster that looks loaded with experience, but the biggest question is still the same one every team eventually faces: what does this group actually become once the games start?
The Nittany Lions open Sept. 5 against Marshall at Beaver Stadium, and the early read from inside the program points to a team with plenty of moving parts and a few clear anchors. The offense, in particular, seems built around a familiar type of weapon and a quarterback who brings a lot of mileage with him.
Tight end Ben Brahmer is one of those names. Mark Wogenrich sees him as Penn State’s next major tight end, even if he won’t be Tyler Warren.
Wogenrich expects Brahmer to lead the team in third-down conversions, touchdown receptions and high-stress plays, and says he’ll be a 2027 draft pick. Will Horstman is just as bullish on Brahmer’s place in the offense, saying the tight end room should be the centerpiece and that Brahmer could even wind up as Penn State’s leading pass catcher.
Quarterback Rocco Becht is another major reason for optimism. Horstman called him healthy and said he put together a standout training camp before his redshirt senior year.
With that kind of experience, Horstman believes Becht is set up for a career year in his only season with the Nittany Lions. Wogenrich was even more direct about how central Becht is, saying Penn State can’t win eight games without him.
There’s a backup plan in place, at least on paper. Horstman said Alex Manske separated himself as the No. 2 quarterback during camp. Even so, he added that Penn State would take a hit if Becht were unavailable, especially in road games like Michigan or Washington.
Penn State’s receiver group also has a player drawing attention for pure speed. Wogenrich pointed to former Iowa State receiver Brett Eskildsen, who calls himself “fast, fast” and is backing it up on the field. Wogenrich said Eskildsen is nearing a top speed of 24 mph and should provide big plays in the offense.
The backfield has its own question mark. Wogenrich called running back Quinton Martin Jr. Penn State’s best all-around back and the player with the most long-term potential, but also said the crowded room probably won’t allow him enough touches to reach 1,000 yards.
On the other side of the ball, Tony Rojas stands out as the player whose health may matter most. Wogenrich said Rojas’ absence helped derail the 2025 defense, and that his return is central to how this group functions.
Horstman also highlighted a lineman who hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention as some of his teammates: defensive tackle Keanu Williams. Cooper Cousins expects Williams to be “an elite defensive tackle in this conference this year,” and Horstman suggested he could end up being the most important player on the defensive line.
The biggest concern on offense may be less about star power and more about cohesion. Wogenrich said Penn State’s open practices showed an offense that looked inconsistent, though missing players played a role.
With Becht, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and a large Iowa State contingent in the mix, he expects the unit to become crisper, with the first three games serving as the window to sort it out. Horstman focused on the line, where Penn State has four new starters after right tackle Anthony Donkoh, the lone returnee.
He said early-season struggles would not be surprising as the group works through all that turnover.
As for the schedule, both writers think Penn State should handle its non-conference slate. Wogenrich said a stumble could happen and joked that “Temple” might be the place for it, while Horstman disagreed and said the Nittany Lions should be heavy favorites in all three games, even if a halftime score gets tight before they pull away.
The real tension comes later. Wogenrich circled Minnesota on Nov. 14 as a game that could either feel like a playoff stress test or become a sour finish to Campbell’s first season.
Horstman pointed instead to Northwestern, which will host Penn State in the first game at the new Ryan Field on a Friday night in primetime. He said that one could get tricky, especially with the White Out against USC coming the next week, and added that Penn State could be vulnerable to looking ahead.
Wogenrich still thinks the Nittany Lions get through that quirky road trip and a home game against Wisconsin to reach the White Out at 5-0, though he said it would be by a thread. Horstman wasn’t as convinced, saying Penn State will lose at least one game it should win and calling Northwestern a serious trap.
That leaves the coaching question. Wogenrich said he does not see Campbell winning Big Ten Coach of the Year, though he left room for a different kind of season if another coach surges. Horstman, by contrast, said Campbell should absolutely be in the mix if Penn State wins double-digit games in Year 1, especially with possible victories over USC, Michigan or Washington.
When it comes to the win total, both lean over. Wogenrich likes Penn State for nine wins, even if he thinks that may still be generous given the schedule. Horstman also took the over on 7.5, pointing out that the Nittany Lions are likely to be favored in at least nine games and could still clear the number even with a slip-up they should avoid.
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